Dataset Information

Functional analysis of microRNA activity in Brugia malayi.

ABSTRACT: The complement of the Brugia malayi microRNA-71 was inserted into the 3' untranslated region of a reporter plasmid, resulting in a decrease in reporter activity. Mutation of the seed sequence restored activity. Insertion of the 3' untranslated regions from two algorithm-predicted putative target genes into the reporter resulted in a similar decrease in activity; mutation of the predicted target sequences restored activity. These experiments demonstrate that B. malayi microRNA targets may be predicted using current algorithms and describe a functional assay to confirm predicted targets.

SUBMITTER: Liu C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4490087 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Functional analysis of microRNA activity in Brugia malayi.

Liu Canhui C Voronin Denis D Poole Catherine B CB Bachu Saheed S Rogers Matthew B MB Jin Jingmin J Ghedin Elodie E Lustigman Sara S McReynolds Larry A LA Unnasch Thomas R TR

International journal for parasitology 20150522 9-10

The complement of the Brugia malayi microRNA-71 was inserted into the 3' untranslated region of a reporter plasmid, resulting in a decrease in reporter activity. Mutation of the seed sequence restored activity. Insertion of the 3' untranslated regions from two algorithm-predicted putative target genes into the reporter resulted in a similar decrease in activity; mutation of the predicted target sequences restored activity. These experiments demonstrate that B. malayi microRNA targets may be pred ...[more]

PMID: 26004246

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Filarial nematodes, including Brugia malayi, the causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, undergo molting in both arthropod and mammalian hosts to complete their life cycles. An understanding of how these parasites cross developmental checkpoints may reveal potential targets for intervention. Pharmacological evidence suggests that ecdysteroids play a role in parasitic nematode molting and fertility although their specific function remains unknown. In insects, ecdysone triggers molting through the activation of the ecdysone receptor: a heterodimer of EcR (ecdysone receptor) and USP (Ultraspiracle). METHODS AND FINDINGS:We report the cloning and characterization of a B. malayi EcR homologue (Bma-EcR). Bma-EcR dimerizes with insect and nematode USP/RXRs and binds to DNA encoding a canonical ecdysone response element (EcRE). In support of the existence of an active ecdysone receptor in Brugia we also cloned a Brugia rxr (retinoid X receptor) homolog (Bma-RXR) and demonstrate that Bma-EcR and Bma-RXR interact to form an active heterodimer using a mammalian two-hybrid activation assay. The Bma-EcR ligand-binding domain (LBD) exhibits ligand-dependent transactivation via a GAL4 fusion protein combined with a chimeric RXR in mammalian cells treated with Ponasterone-A or a synthetic ecdysone agonist. Furthermore, we demonstrate specific up-regulation of reporter gene activity in transgenic B. malayi embryos transfected with a luciferase construct controlled by an EcRE engineered in a B. malayi promoter, in the presence of 20-hydroxy-ecdysone. CONCLUSIONS:Our study identifies and characterizes the two components (Bma-EcR and Bma-RXR) necessary for constituting a functional ecdysteroid receptor in B. malayi. Importantly, the ligand binding domain of BmaEcR is shown to be capable of responding to ecdysteroid ligands, and conversely, ecdysteroids can activate transcription of genes downstream of an EcRE in live B. malayi embryos. These results together confirm that an ecdysone signaling system operates in B. malayi and strongly suggest that Bma-EcR plays a central role in it. Furthermore, our study proposes that existing compounds targeting the insect ecdysone signaling pathway should be considered as potential pharmacological agents against filarial parasites.

Dataset Information

Functional analysis of microRNA activity in Brugia malayi.

Publications

Functional analysis of microRNA activity in Brugia malayi.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure